Help Us Save Rhinos

If you’ve followed our conservation efforts over the years you’ll be aware of our long-term commitment to the wildlife of Zimbabwe; an incredibly diverse country that harbours significant populations of endangered species. A key focus of our work with the Dambari Wildlife Trust, originally founded by Marwell in 1999 as the Marwell Zimbabwe Trust, is African rhino conservation.

Rhino populations are under threat

Through our regular contact with rangers in Zimbabwe we have become increasingly concerned about the plight of rhinos following a resurgence in poaching.

Latest estimates suggest that almost 800 have been killed in the past three years – that’s nearly one rhino every day. As someone who is passionate about wildlife, I know that this breaks your heart as much as it does ours.

We urgently need to increase our work on the ground to combat this terrible threat but to do that we need your help .

Poaching is brutal

Rhino horn is prized for its medicinal value although there is no scientific evidence to back this up, and that demand is being fuelled by a recent upsurge in interest in South East Asia.

The illegal killing of rhinos for their horns is a shocking and brutal business. The majority of rhinos that fall victim to poachers are shot with AK47 assault rifles and .303 calibre rifles, but heavier calibre arms are now being used.

Since 2008, poachers have become increasingly sophisticated and are using quieter methods to avoid detection which include the use of veterinary immobilisation drugs, poison and high-powered cross-bows. The rhino’s suffering is extreme with horns being hastily removed and the animals being mutilated while they are immobilised, but still very much alive. 

On the ground support

Marwell Wildlife has a long standing commitment to African rhino conservation and through our work with the Dambari Wildlife Trust team we are making a positive impact on this critical issue right now through

• Training and supporting Rangers to monitor rhinos and operate anti-poaching patrols in protected areas.
• Rescuing and rehabilitating rhinos injured by poaching.
• Moving rhinos from risky areas to safer havens, and helping to manage populations which are otherwise isolated from each other.

 

Help us combat the threat of rhino poaching

With the increasing threat to rhino populations in Zimbabwe our appeal aims to help fund the critical work needed to save these animals.

Our work is only possible with the help of generous donations from our supporters and fundraisers. In essence we are depending on you. With your support the rhinos we work with will have a more certain future.

Please help us. £42 could provide rations to a member of a rhino monitoring patrol for two weeks; £100 could fund an hour of aerial surveillance; £350 could fund a GPS transmitter enabling us to mark and track rhino, and an exceptionally generous £1000 could pay for a rhino to be rescued. Every pound you donate will help us combat the threat of poaching and improve the prospects of these incredible creatures.

Time is running out. We need money and we need it now before it’s too late.

Turn your compassion into action. Please donate online, call us on 01962 777988 or send a cheque made payable to Marwell Wildlife to our fundraising team at Marwell Wildlife, Thompsons Lane, Colden Common, Hampshire, SO21 1JH

100% of your donation will go towards rhino conservation. Please help.